In February, 2007, we exchanged our house in Melbourne, Australia, with that of a family in Irvine, on the coast south-west of Glasgow, Scotland. During the month we were there we watched the cold and snow of Winter gradually change into the green and warmth of Spring.

We travelled to the highlands of Ben Nevis and to the island of Mull. See my blog post.

In September, 2008, we were based in a delightful Victorian terrace house in Perth, Scotland. Perth, known sometimes as "The Fair City" is on the River Tay, the longest in Scotland. Two fine bridges link the city centre on the western bank to the residential areas on the eastern bank. The city is flanked by two very large parklands - the North Inch and South Inch. There are fine bluestone buildings, cobbled streets and rows of beautiful Georgian terraces. Scone Palace, the original home to the Stone of Destiny, lies within walking distance from the town. We explored this and all areas of Perth, venturing further to Edinburgh and Glasgow, and to St Andrews and the picturesque fishing villages of East Neuk in the southern section of The Kingdom of Fife. North of Perth we journeyed through autumn tinted hills and past lochs, to Pitochry, Kenmore, Dunkeld and the whisky distilleries of Blair Atholl and Aberfeldy.

We gained an insight into one of Scotland's greatest modern artists, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, whose work can be seen in many places in Glasgow, including the Glasgow School of Art and the Willow Tea Rooms. In 1901, Glasgow's most famous architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, entered a competition to design a "House for an Art Lover". The competition was set by a German design magazine which sought entries to design a "house in a thoroughly modern style." although the house was not built during Mackintosh's lifetime, construction began in 1989 and completed in 1996. The reality provided a challenge and learning process for the many contemporary artists and crafts people involved with the project.